Senate Dems question Berger’s education reform plan (video)

Senate Leader Phil Berger[1] made several adjustments[2] to the Excellent Public Schools Act before Tuesday’s committee hearing, but Senate Democrats found more room for improvement.

Wake County Senator Josh Stein[3] said he was troubled by Part III of the bill, which would issue a letter grade for each public school. Stein worried certain achievements could be overlooked under this rating system, leaving parents with a less than accurate assessment of their local public school.

“This I feel is part of a trend, disparaging public education to set up an environment where by it makes sense to have school vouchers for private school,” argued Stein.”This just seems too simplistic and too punitive in my opinion.”

Senator Floyd McKissick[4] of Durham County questioned why another part of the legislation would strip away public financing for the state Superintendent of Public Instruction race.

Finally, Senate Minority Leader Martin Nesbitt[5] of Buncombe County chastised Berger for eliminating effective teacher training programs last year, while trying to make it easier to dismiss educators this year under this bill.

Despite their concerns, the committee advanced Senator Berger’s bill on a voice vote to the the Senate appropriations and finance committee .